On christmas day morning we went up Shaftoe crags. While photos were taken mum was used as a hat stand. Modelling Am’s hat was worth whipping out the phone for.

I don’t remember the last time it was just the 6 of us for christmas day, but it happened this year as Grandad spent it in hospital with grandma. Late afternoon we went in to hospital and entertained with the guitar before driving down to Stockport to see the Greens.

Finally home for christmas, been looking forward to it for weeks. As per normal, mum tries to fit in all those appointments that should have been met donkeys ago.

At 10am I got drained of a pint of the red stuff and because it was christmas they were giving out presents. Asda shower gel… oh yeah baby. 11:30 was the dentist. The last 2 days of using the electric toothbrush paid off big time as my teeth were branded “beautiful” (in the manly sense obviously!), though certainly no reflection on the last 6 months worth of slack brushing. Anyways, next up was a game o tennis with Zand, Jonny and John. A year without practice meant I was a bit poo (minus a pint of blood probably didn’t help either), but Zand and me did win 7-5, 6-1. There were glimpses of potential, but the forehand was everytime an erratic, unpredictable disaster :P.

Early afternoon we went to see G’ma in the hospital a la post stroke rehab ward. I thought she was on pretty good form. She didn’t have much control of her left hand and her speech was quite slow. Being the first time i’ve seen her, i’ve really nothing compare progress to. People are hopful she’ll make a fairly good recovery, although the critical question is whether she’ll regain enough mobility to live at home again?

I’ve just finished it this week. Its pretty short, a very easy read written simply for those striving for a lasting, loving marriage, whether for the present or in preemptive preparation.

It reads quite like a long sermon as he ambles purposely through the betrothal and marriage of Issac and Rebekah. It doesn’t go into huge depth but offers a very much God-centered, biblical view of the subject.

Very much worth a read especially as it won’t take you long.

There were a few things which really stood out for me…

Will and emotion (p30)

He suggests that we’re prone to exaggerating the separation between the emotion and the will, when infact we should be looking to preserve the grand union between them. Theres a great line on page 30:

“Without the will, marriage is a mockery; without emotion, it is a drudgery. You need both.”

My heart goes along with that. They’ve been a source of confusion in the past, able only to see them as opposing viewpoints, with most people seeming to have bias towards one over the other.

Temptation (p80)

There was a part which shed some useful insight into temptation based around Matthew 4:1-11 which details how Jesus was tempted. The devil makes temptation appear as a natural desire, but when he tempted Him with “the kingdoms of this world” its important to notice that what he was offering was neither his nor his to give, instead he was offering an “enchantment of the eye”… “to go for the shell of existence while loosing the essence of one’s being”.

Ready for marriage? (p97-105)

This was a very much practical section where he makes 3 main points:

Do you truly have the maturity to sacrifice your selfishness for the responsibility that lies ahead?

Get the best pre-marital counseling possible.

Preparation and commitment to conflict resolution.

He also says on p97 that when he was married, he remembers pondering whether he really loved the girl he was marrying.

Don’t rush (p111)

Just the simple idea that if marriage is as grand as the bible intended it to be, then its worth it to wait until you are ready for that right moment… for the right one.

Importance of prayer (p120)

He suggests that the individuals prayer life is the key to discerning his or her character, going on to say that

“It is self-evident truth that a person who truly prays and seeks God’s wisdom in life recognizes the sovereignty of God and is committed to seeking God’s wisdom in life’s important choices. It is important to to understand that it is a prayer life that build character that honors God”

Memorizing scripture (p128)

He talks about the importance of studying God’s word, its greatest single purpose being to make us “wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15 KJV). He suggests that learning studying and memorizing scripture “make an inscription in the very soul”, and when God needs to speak to us it gives him a context within which to reach us.

Family life and being a man (p145)

He observes that there are fewer and fewer examples of godly men for young men to follow going on to say that and there is little doubt that men have led the way in the dereliction of duty to the family.

We did it, we won the PES6 world cup, a feat still not achieved on PES5. A cameo performance from Ben was arguably the catalyst as he banged in a few goals to secure passage through the group stages.

We then unexpectedly trolloped Italy 4-0 in the quarters before Dave and myself sealed a remarkably straightforward 2-0 win over Brazil in the semi-final.

We faced up to France in the final, and they took the lead shorty before half time. We battled hard in the second half though deservedly scoring 2 goals to lift that cup and breathe the sweet smell of PES6 success.

It should also be said that the medals do appear to “hang” better around the players next than on PES5 where they floated rather disconcertingly like coat hangers :P.

Me being me, I cottoned on to the idea a shade late, as we’re now 8 weeks into the 10 week study, but at least i’ll have it for the next time I fancy an intellectual work out.

Taking a quick moment to reflect, so far Romans has been amazing. Certain things have really stood out such as the lavishness of God’s grace, just how new we are as “new creations” in Christ, and the extent to which the Spirit now dwelling within us intercedes for us.

I think in summary i’ve found the studies to have brought a much fuller meaning to Jesus’ statement of being the “Way the Truth and the Life”, particularly the “Life” part.

As you’d expect, the studies have raised some tough questions. Predestination got a good bit of air time as we grappled with God’s sovereign choice. I could go off on a rant here but i’ll save it for now :P.

What I will say is praise God because he’s God. Praise him for being a just, holy God who loves me and who has shown me outrageous mercy and grace through his gift of salvation. Were God not far above us in every respect he wouldn’t be God, and boasting elements unfathomable reason and logic must surely be a part of that…

Was so thankful to discover the doxology at the end of chapter 11.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Regardless of any questions one might have, it doesn’t leave you much to complain about… :)

Played for Scrubbers in the church league yesterday against Chapel and was again given a center-back/sweeper role. I’ve never quite understood why they’re so determined to put me here :P. Anyways, I had a bit of a mare, with a moment of madness so maybe they’ll finally get the message.
We have the ball, the back-4 are sitting 20 yards short of the half-way line, no pressure, nice and comfortable, knocking the ball around. I find myself recieving the ball, with just enough time to execute 1 of 2 options:

Place a measured hoof down the right wing (that would be the correct answer)

Pass it back inside towards my fellow centerback who is in close proximity with an onrunning attacker (nooooo!!!!!)

Yep, I opted for the later and their dude cantered through, 1 nil. Felt like such a spoon. Grrrr.
Finished 1-1 in the end, Michael rescued us with a 40-yard looping louie which made Al lindop (their goalie and good pal o mine) look quite silly. Great strike.

In an attempt to a bit more balanced, other than my moment of mare I think we did pretty well, we protected our keeper really well and he didn’t have to make a save.